Picture a sprawling landscape dotted with weatherboard homesteads. This is Hoxton Park in 1887. A significant portion of this land was owned by Thomas Amos a London solicitor who arrived in Sydney in 1816. He was granted 800 acres. He built a pretty cottage on his property. This is where the name Hoxton Park originated possibly named after Hoxton in London.
Hoxton Park wasn’t always the suburb we know today. It was once part of the larger Parish of Cabramatta. In 1887 the area underwent subdivision. James Otis Phillips and his son William Edgar Harold Phillips divided the land into three-acre blocks. The official gazetting of Hoxton Park as a suburb didn’t happen until April 7 1972.
The timber from Hoxton Park was in high demand. Colonial Sydney used it for fencing and outbuildings. Barges transported the wood down the Georges River to Botany Bay. The area’s development wasn’t just about timber. Hoxton Park also had a vibrant educational past. In 1882 Hoxton Park Primary School opened. Initially called Cabramatta School it faced closure in 1886 due to low enrolment. It reopened in 1889 with eighteen students. The school eventually relocated to its current site in 1955.
Life wasn’t always easy for the early settlers of Hoxton Park. Many young pupils worked in manual labor. Some lived more than two miles from the school finding it difficult to attend classes. The area also boasts a fascinating early homestead called Bernera. Constructed around 1857 it was built by Allan Macpherson son of a former Collector of Internal Revenue. Bernera is a notable example of vernacular architecture and is on the Register of the National Estate.
In more recent times Hoxton Park saw the establishment of a small airport. Hoxton Park Airport served general aviation and training. It unfortunately closed and was demolished in 2008. Today Hoxton Park is a multicultural hub with residents from diverse backgrounds. The 2021 census showed a significant number of residents born outside of Australia. Languages spoken at home reflect this rich cultural tapestry. The area also boasts numerous churches showing the vibrant religious life of the community. So here we are at Hoxton Park a place with rich history diverse culture and a fascinating past.